The Environment: How Geospatial Technology Is Shaping Our Future

Executives in the sector and governments are searching for methods to address climate change challenges in response to mounting public and legislative demands for change. In fact, a study we conducted in conjunction with Oxford Economics revealed that over one-third of CEOs polled regarding their usage of geospatial services stated that one of their top three organizational priorities is sustainability. We think that making climate information broadly and publically available can assist companies achieve these adjustments. We also think that making geospatial, location-based information easily accessible can be transformative. Technological developments in environmental data and insights have not only made it easier to make sustainable corporate decisions, but they have also created new avenues for product innovations that support individuals in taking preventative measures against environmental
risks. Our team dedicated to geospatial sustainability seeks to facilitate global access to environmental data for executives and leaders, as well as to propel innovation toward a more sustainable future.

Mitigating Carbon Emissions With Geospatial Data And Insights
Reducing carbon emissions is an international issue that calls for significant change. No organization or country, no matter how ambitious, can address a problem as enormous as climate change on its own. Developing technology and solutions that enable us and others to take meaningful action is one of the most powerful things we can do. In light of this, our goal at Google is to assist people, communities, and our partners in lowering their annual carbon equivalent emissions by 1 gigaton by 2030. This is no easy task, and there is still a long way to go before major cooperative initiatives in certain areas are possible. Solar energy is one form of clean energy that looks to have the biggest influence on carbon emission levels. The National Geographic Society claims that Earth receives an hour orth of sunshine, which is enough to power the world for a full year. However, actually harnessing this energy is a different matter. As solar technology develops further, we think solar data and insights will clarify the best paths toward a sustainable future, particularly in terms of advancements in rooftop solar potential, optimization, and transparency regarding the benefits that can be obtained by making the switch. Globally, nations are formulating strategies to shift towards sustainable energy. Europe is spearheading this effort with its ambitious REPowerEU initiative, which proposes rooftop solar to offset half of the projected carbon emissions. We need solutions that assist in educating the public, businesses, and governments on the advantages and viability of switching to solar power
in order to make ideas like these a reality. Strong geographical data, pictures, and insights are needed for this, such as those provided by our Solar API. Innovations that facilitate the switch to rooftop solar energy can be produced more easily by gathering and evaluating data from many global sources. Lastly, talking about carbon emissions would be incomplete without considering
transportation. As businesses look for ways to reduce transportation emissions using solutions like Last Mile Fleet Solution, the value of platforms that can provide geospatial intelligence and insights is becoming more and more apparent, regardless of whether they are managing a massive supply chain fleet or delivering your lunch. By obtaining accurate address data, streamlining delivery routes, facilitating driver navigation, monitoring cargo status, and evaluating fleet performance, businesses can enhance delivery operations. These solutions cut operational expenses in addition to assisting in the reduction of carbon emissions. In actuality, sustainable initiatives frequently result in wise commercial choices. The same Oxford Economics study I referenced earlier found that over two-thirds of CEOs claimed that by offering effective routes for people and commodities, geospatial capabilities had produced at least a moderate benefit. Almost one-third of respondents claimed that geospatial capabilities had greatly enhanced energy and fuel efficiency, resulting in much-needed fuel cost savings during a period of high energy costs and fewer greenhouse gas emissions as concerns about global warming mount.

Using Environmental Insights To Help People Adapt To A Changing Environment
If you’ve ever received a severe weather notice, you understand the significance of having access to accurate and timely information. We depend more and more on technology to help us prepare for and respond to environmental dangers and climate change. We can take action to safeguard our families, our businesses, and ourselves against climate-related hazards such as dust storms, extreme weather, wildfires, droughts, allergies, and more by utilizing solutions based on geospatial technology. An increasing number of people are experiencing problems with their health and safety in the event of natural disasters. For example, people with health issues like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are increasingly paying close attention to air pollution. Understanding the air we breathe and its consequences on our health is more critical than ever due to the rise in wildfires, pollen, carbon emissions, and other factors. There are countless ways to use air quality data and insights, such as those included in the Google Maps Platform Air Quality API, to assist people avoid being exposed to bad air quality worldwide. Several sectors are developing innovations that use data on air pollution to assist consumers in safeguarding their health. Home air purifiers, HVAC systems, and car multimedia systems, for instance, can now automatically turn on and adjust their settings based on the outside conditions. Similarly, map overlays help people make better decisions about where to live, when to go outside, and even which particular route to take in order to avoid pollution. Furthermore, healthcare organizations can use information on air quality and other environmental factors to guide their research and treatment initiatives. In the same vein, research indicates that a greater number of individuals are being impacted by pollen every year, and that the duration and intensity of allergy seasons are rising as a result of climate change. You are aware of the significant impact seasonal allergies can have on your life if you have them. However, sparse, manual collecting methods have limited access to trustworthy pollen count data, necessitating the use of geospatial solutions. Our Pollen API is able to provide accurate levels every day, including a 5-day forecast for various forms of pollen, at a granular level in nations all over the world by utilizing a variety of data sources, satellite imagery, and variables such as weather, air streams, historical season data, etc. Using these data, Pharmaceutical businesses have the ability to provide highly beneficial individualized experiences for their allergy medicine clients. Pollen data has the same potential to improve indoor air quality, smart home, wearable technology, vehicle, and outdoor navigation systems
as does air quality data.

Helping Protect Natural Resources Using Advanced Geospatial

Tech And AI

Geospatial technology and innovations hold the key to sustainable sourcing, protecting forests and oceans, and other significant steps toward conservation and preservation of our natural resources. Google Maps Platform, Google Earth, Earth Engine, and Environmental Insights Explorer have all played a role in helping companies, researchers, and governments understand and monitor the effect supply chains, policy changes, conservation efforts, and more have on the environment. One group dedicated to conservation, iNaturalist, claims that conservation is a geographical issue. They mapping biodiversity using Google Maps Platform and other Google products. Once it on the map, they can assist us in making wise judgments that will prevent the extinction of species.
We can create stronger solutions, encourage innovation across industries, and provide consumers and partners worldwide with richer information by utilizing AI, machine learning, and environmental data. Even companies without in-house geospatial specialists can seek out partners to assist in developing solutions to meet sustainability objectives and reduce climate risk. We anticipate that the next phase of geospatial technology will present considerably more chances to quicken change. It plays a significant role in our optimism for the future; in fact, if we band together, there are no boundaries to what we may accomplish.